Dwarka Temple — Dwarkadhish

Dwarkadhish Temple — The Lord of Dwarka

The Western Gateway of the Char Dham

Dwarkadhish Temple stands at the western extremity of Hindu sacred geography — the ocean-terminus of the Char Dham. The city of Dwarka is the legendary capital of Krishna's kingdom, said to have been built on the site where a previous city was swallowed by the sea. The Mahābhārata records that after Krishna's departure, the city submerged beneath the Arabian Sea — a tradition now being investigated by marine archaeology.

The Temple

The current structure dates from the 16th century, built by Jagat Singh II of Mewar. Its five-storeyed structure rises 52 metres, supported by 72 pillars. The temple has two entrances: the Swarg Dwar (Gate of Heaven), facing north, is the route by which devotees enter; the Moksh Dwar (Gate of Liberation), facing south, is the exit route. The 52-step staircase leading from the town to the Swarg Dwar represents the 52 Yadava clans who accompanied Krishna from Mathura.

Bet Dwarka — The Submerged City

30 km offshore lies Bet Dwarka (Shankhodhara), a small island identified in tradition as the site of Krishna's original palace. The National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) has conducted underwater excavations revealing:

• Stone structures and walls at depths of 6–8 metres
• Pottery fragments dating to c. 1500 BCE (late Harappan period)
• Anchor stones and possible harbour remains

The marine archaeology supports the tradition that an ancient coastal city existed here before sea-level rise — whether it was Krishna's Dwarka remains contested.

The Kashi–Dwarka Axis

Dwarka is the western terminus of the Char Dham — paired with Kashi (Varanasi) in the east–west axis. The Dwarka–Kashi corridor is one of the oldest living pilgrimage traditions in India: pilgrims who complete Dwarka carry Ganges water from Kashi for abhisheka, and Kashi pilgrims carry Dwarka sand back.